The world of Tzu Chi July 2020 (Vol.124)

18 2020 • 07 eature T he Jing-Si handmade soap series derives its essence from plants and herbs, leveraging their healing and soothing properties to produce all-natural cleaning agents that promote the message of environmental conservation through their eco- friendly composition and production process. The origin of Jing-Si soaps is closely associated with Master De Jian, a Dharma master at the Jing Si Abode who heard Master Cheng Yen mentioning her sensitive skin and the excessive addition of chemical substances in modern cleaning products as compared to the use of rice bran or soapberries as cleaning agents in the past. Since then, Master De Jian resolved to create natural soap products to alleviate Master Cheng Yen’s skin condition. After using the handmade soap for more than a year, Master Cheng Yen was pleased to discover that the soap relieved the red, itchy rashes on her skin and hoped to share its benefits with the general public. Hence, Jing-Si soap bars were produced in modest quantities in 2009 and started circulating in the market in 2010, amplifying Master De Jian’s thoughtful intention of easing Master ChengYen’s worries. Jing-Si soaps are made with environmentally-conscious principles in mind, aiming to extend the utility lifespan of resources and reduce carbon footprint. The fat required for soap production is obtained from natural oils extracted from dried plants. Next, leftover wood shavings from construction projects and parts of plants finely ground into powder are added to the soap mixture for texture. The soap Back to basics Jing-Si soaps are lovingly crafted by hand by using all-natural ingredients, cleansing and purifying not only the body, but also the heart and mind with the essence of plants steeped in nature. mixture is then left to dry for two days. Harnessing the goodness of nature Master De Jian insisted on using seasonal plants for soap production to allow nature to run its course and make full use of the plants growing in the garden, grounded in the belief that the purifying and cleansing qualities of the soaps are only sustainable with a dedicated heart and mind unaffected by worldly concerns and a persistence in pursuing the Noble Eightfold Path of righteousness. After the hardened soap mixture has been carved into smaller bars, the bars of soap are arranged on a cart and left to mature in a drying chamber for 60 days, during which the bars are flipped by hand from time to time. Finally, the finished products are carefully packaged and labelled by the Dharma masters at the Abode with a sincere heart. The production process is time-consuming and labour-intensive, yet the Dharma masters are committed to conserving Nature through environmentally-friendly practices. Although the soaps lack aesthetic and sensory appeal due to their austere, earthy tones and absence of additional fragrances, every bar of Jing-Si soap is unique and stays true to the Jing-Si philosophy of curbing one’s desire for sensory stimulation, besides encouraging reflection and a deeper appreciation of the true substance of every being. Inspired by nature In the aftermath of the 2005 Typhoon